Bidi Tobacco Control

Advocacy Efforts

MEET and its local partner NGOs (Centre for Development Action, Centre for Management Development, SRADHA Trust and Centre for Agribusiness Management) have been undertaking advocacy initiatives aimed at promoting effective tobacco control policies and implementing strategies particularly to disrupt the bidi value chain. The efforts of MEET and its local partners include:

  • Implemented community-based awareness campaigns in three KBK districts of Odisha, reaching 20,000 miners to educate them on bidi smoking health risks and tobacco control policies, focusing on youth in mining.
  • Established youth engagement programs involving 1500 miners, empowering them to advocate against bidi smoking and champion tobacco control policies within their communities and schools.
  • Over the past 8 years, MEET and local partners conducted 5 research projects as stated above, gathering data on bidi smoking prevalence, health effects, and economic burdens to inform advocacy and policy development
  • MEET and local partners initiated media campaigns across various platforms to raise awareness on bidi smoking harms and advocate for tobacco control policies.
  • MEET and local partners trained and equipped 350 community health workers, including frontline personnel, to deliver tobacco cessation counseling and aid to bidi smokers.
  • Stakeholder Engagement and Collaboration: MEET has executed various research initiatives, awareness campaigns, and advocacy efforts, involving diverse stakeholders like governmental bodies, local NGOs, and community organizations
  • Knowledge about relevant laws, regulations, and policy frameworks governing the policy area relating to our project: Team MEET possesses comprehensive knowledge of relevant laws, including the Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products Act (COTPA), 2003, the National Tobacco Control Program (NTCP), Goods and Services Tax (GST), CBIC norms on excise duties, National Health Policy, 2017, Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC) guidelines, State-specific laws, and Advertising Standards. This understanding is vital for crafting pricing strategies to disrupt the bidi value chain and advance public health in India. MEET also excels in strategic planning, policy analysis, stakeholder engagement, and monitoring and evaluation, ensuring effective implementation.

Research-Bidi Control